Beat on the Brat: Pacifica

Key takeaways

The mission is a focused melee test rather than a conventional Pacifica combat objective.

• Find the Animals' gym The fight is held at Grand Imperial Mall in Pacifica, in an area associated with the Animals. Location
• Fight without weapons The encounter is structured as an unarmed boxing match, so firearm, blade and quickhack tactics are not the normal solution. Fight rules
• Defend before counterattacking Rhino's pressure makes premature attacks risky. Dodge or block the committed swing, then answer with a short combination before creating space again. Basic strategy
• Preparation matters Unarmed perks, Gorilla Arms and defensive cyberware can substantially improve the fight, particularly for characters whose main build does not use melee attacks. Preparation

Beat on the Brat: Pacifica overview

Beat on the Brat: Pacifica is V's boxing challenge against Rhino, a formidable fighter associated with the Animals. The match takes place inside Grand Imperial Mall in Pacifica and is fought without conventional weapons.

This mission is one of the regional fights in the Beat on the Brat series. V is directed to Grand Imperial Mall, a location controlled by the Animals, where Coach Fred's challenge leads to a bout with Rhino. The encounter is deliberately different from an ordinary combat mission: the fight is intended to be settled with fists, and the opponent's toughness makes preparation more important than simply bringing a strong firearm build.

Rhino relies on close-range pressure, heavy swings and the ability to punish poorly timed attacks. The arena gives V room to move, but backing away without a plan can leave the player trapped against the surrounding space or caught during recovery. Short combinations, careful stamina management and well-timed dodges are safer than repeatedly attacking until the stamina bar is exhausted.

The match can be approached as a test of V's unarmed-combat investment rather than as a normal hostile encounter. Cyberware, perks and temporary consumables that improve survivability or melee performance can make the fight more manageable, while a character built around guns, hacking or stealth may need to adapt. Completing the bout advances the broader Beat on the Brat objective and provides the mission's payment.

Where this sits

Requirements

Reach the Pacifica stage of the Beat on the Brat series and travel to the fight location.

• RequiredBeat on the Brat progressThe mission belongs to Coach Fred's boxing quest chain and is encountered as one of its regional challenges.
• RequiredAccess to PacificaV must be able to travel to Grand Imperial Mall in Pacifica.
• RecommendedUnarmed combat readinessNo specific perk is mandatory, but a character with weak melee damage or limited survivability may find Rhino's bout disproportionately difficult.
• RecommendedDefensive preparationHealing, armor and cyberware that improve durability are useful because the fight is decided at close range.
• OptionalManual saveSaving before speaking to the fight organizer gives V a safe opportunity to adjust equipment and perks if the first attempt goes badly.

Objectives

1. Go to Grand Imperial Mall in Pacifica.Reach the Animals' location and follow the mission marker toward the area where the boxing match is arranged.
2. Challenge Rhino to a fight.Speak with the relevant people at the venue and proceed through the confrontation until the bout begins.
3. Defeat Rhino in unarmed combat.Win the boxing match using punches, blocks, dodges and other permitted unarmed-combat actions.
4. Collect the mission payment.After the match concludes, speak with the organizer or follow the updated objective to finish the regional challenge.

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Go to the fight location.

   Travel to Grand Imperial Mall

   Follow the mission marker into Pacifica and enter Grand Imperial Mall, the Animals' base where the Pacifica bout is held. Do not treat every hostile-looking area as part of the objective; the mission is focused on reaching the arranged fight.

   Location: Grand Imperial Mall, Pacifica

   TipPrepare before entering the arena area, because the unarmed fight does not let a normal weapon build solve the encounter from a distance.

2. 02

   Find the Pacifica boxing match.

   Locate the boxing venue

   Move through the mall toward the area marked for the Beat on the Brat challenge and look for the people gathered around the fighting space. The mission advances through conversation, so wait for the dialogue prompt rather than starting unrelated combat.

   Location: Grand Imperial Mall

3. 03

   Arrange the fight with Rhino.

   Speak with the fight organizer

   Talk to the organizer at the venue to identify Rhino as the opponent and confirm the terms of the bout. Use this moment to verify that V is ready for close-range combat; once the match begins, firearms and ordinary ranged tactics are not the intended route.

   Location: Animals' fighting area

   Watch outIf V is poorly prepared for melee combat, leave and adjust the build before committing to the match.

4. 04

   Begin the unarmed bout.

   Enter the arena

   Step into the marked fighting space and wait for the encounter to start. Keep V near the center rather than immediately backing into an edge, because the available room is most useful when it gives you space to circle around Rhino.

   Location: Boxing arena inside Grand Imperial Mall

   Checkpoint
5. 05

   Survive the opening exchange.

   Read Rhino's opening pressure

   Rhino closes distance quickly and uses heavy melee attacks that can interrupt an impatient assault. Start defensively, watch the beginning of her swing and avoid spending the entire stamina bar on a long sequence of punches.

   Location: Boxing arena

   TipA short attack string followed by movement is safer than standing directly in front of Rhino and trading every hit.

6. 06

   Create openings without taking unnecessary damage.

   Dodge or block the committed swings

   Use a dodge to leave the line of a heavy attack, or block when movement would place V against the arena boundary. After Rhino's attack finishes, there is a safer opening for a brief counterattack before she resumes pressure.

   Location: Boxing arena

   Watch outRepeatedly holding block is not a complete solution; V can still lose ground and stamina if the fight becomes a stationary exchange.

7. 07

   Reduce Rhino's health while maintaining control of the space.

   Counterattack in short combinations

   Punish Rhino during recovery with controlled punches, then disengage before the next heavy swing. Prioritize reliable hits over a risky finisher, especially if V's stamina is low or the opponent has begun another forward movement.

   Location: Boxing arena

   TipCircle rather than retreat in a straight line so Rhino has a harder time pinning V against the edge.

8. 08

   Maintain enough health to finish the bout.

   Use healing between exchanges

   If V's health becomes dangerous, create distance first and heal when there is enough room to do so safely. Rushing back into melee immediately after taking a major hit often turns one mistake into a defeat.

   Location: Boxing arena

   Watch outHealing does not replace movement; Rhino can close the gap quickly if V uses a recovery item while standing too close.

9. 09

   Defeat Rhino.

   Defeat Rhino

   Continue alternating defense, movement and short counters until Rhino is beaten. The match ends when her health is depleted; the encounter should remain an unarmed bout rather than becoming a conventional fight with the surrounding Animals.

   Location: Boxing arena

   Checkpoint
10. 10

    Finish the mission after the bout.

    Complete the post-fight conversation

    After the victory, remain in the venue and follow the updated objective rather than leaving immediately. Speak with the relevant character to receive the result of the challenge and close out the Pacifica portion of the quest.

    Location: Grand Imperial Mall

Mission mechanics

Beat on the Brat: Pacifica uses Cyberpunk 2077's unarmed-combat rules instead of the normal open-world combat loop. V's equipped weapon loadout is not the important damage source during the match, so the practical value of perks, cyberware and attributes that improve punches, stamina, health or general survivability is much higher than it would be in a standard mission.

Rhino's size and melee pressure make spacing the central mechanic. The safest rhythm is to let her commit to an attack, avoid the impact, deliver a limited counter and move again. Long attack strings can look attractive when Rhino is recovering, but they leave V vulnerable if the opponent recovers sooner than expected.

The arena is also part of the challenge. The player needs enough room to dodge without turning the fight into a straight retreat, while the center of the space gives more options for circling. If V reaches a boundary, prioritize escaping the corner over dealing another hit; losing position can prevent a clean response to Rhino's next attack.

What works and what does not

Rhino encounter

• Location
  Boxing arena inside Grand Imperial Mall, Pacifica
• Health
  Large health pool for an unarmed opponent; exact value varies with game difficulty and character progression.

Begin by observing Rhino's attack timing instead of immediately spending stamina on offense. Dodge or block the incoming heavy strike, land a short combination, then circle back toward the arena's center. Repeat this rhythm, heal only after creating space, and avoid being pushed into a corner. Unarmed perks, Gorilla Arms and defensive preparation are especially valuable for characters without a melee-focused build.

Phases

1. 1

   Opening assessment

   Starts: The boxing match begins.

   Rhino is at full health.

   Rhino establishes the fight's pace with close-range pressure. Use the opening to learn the timing of her committed swings and avoid spending stamina before a clear opportunity appears.

   • Heavy forward swingTell Rhino commits her body to a forceful melee attack.Answer Dodge away or to the side, then use the recovery window for a short counter.
   • Stay near the center of the arena.
   • Do not treat the first opening as permission to use an unlimited combo.
2. 2

   Pressure exchange

   Starts: Rhino has taken damage and continues pursuing V.

   Reduced but still substantial.

   The main portion of the fight is a repeated exchange of pressure and counters. Rhino remains dangerous at close range, so V must keep moving while waiting for safe punish windows.

   • Close-range comboTell Rhino stays in V's space and chains melee pressure instead of disengaging.Answer Block or dodge through the sequence, then reposition before attacking.
   • Circle around Rhino instead of retreating directly backward.
   • If V is cornered, spend the next action escaping rather than forcing another hit.
3. 3

   Final exchange

   Starts: Rhino is near defeat.

   Low relative to the start of the bout.

   The remaining health can tempt V into taking unnecessary risks. Keep the same defensive rhythm until the fight ends instead of assuming the final portion is safe.

   • Desperate melee pressureTell Rhino continues trying to close the distance while her health is low.Answer Wait for the attack to finish, then land the final controlled counter.
   • Preserve stamina for the last dodge.
   • Do not leave the arena or turn the boxing match into a wider confrontation.

Checklist

• Reach Grand Imperial Mall in Pacifica.The match is held inside the Animals' mall location.
• Find the marked boxing area.Use the mission objective and venue dialogue to identify the correct space.
• Confirm the bout with the organizer.This is the conversation stage before the unarmed encounter.
• Equip or activate useful unarmed-combat preparation.Gorilla Arms, melee perks and defensive cyberware are useful but not mandatory.Optional
• Keep the fight in the arena.Do not rely on ordinary weapons or unrelated combat tactics.
• Defeat Rhino.Use dodges, blocks, movement and controlled counterattacks.
• Finish the post-fight conversation.Remain at the venue long enough to complete the mission update.
• Confirm the Beat on the Brat progress update.The Pacifica bout contributes to the wider boxing series.

Failure conditions

• V is defeated in the boxing match.The bout is lost if Rhino depletes V's health. Reload a save or retry the encounter after improving melee damage, stamina management or survivability.
• V abandons the encounter before it is resolved.Leaving the designated fight or failing to complete the required conversation can prevent the mission from advancing until V returns to the venue.
• V becomes trapped against the arena boundary.This is not necessarily a separate scripted failure, but it creates a high-risk position where Rhino's close-range attacks are difficult to avoid.

Rewards

• Cash payment
  Winning the Pacifica bout provides the mission's payment; the exact amount can depend on the game version or progression state.
• Beat on the Brat progress
  Completing the fight advances the wider boxing challenge associated with Coach Fred.
• Combat experience
  The encounter provides practical experience with Cyberpunk 2077's unarmed-combat systems, although no specific item drop is confirmed here.

Aftermath

Trivia

• The mission's title identifies both the recurring Beat on the Brat activity and the Pacifica region where this bout occurs.
• Rhino's fight is notable because the opponent is associated with the Animals, a faction known for emphasizing physical strength and body modification.
• A character designed primarily for ranged combat can still complete the mission, but the encounter exposes the difference between general combat strength and dedicated unarmed-combat preparation.
• The Pacifica bout is one of several regional challenges rather than the only fight required for the Beat on the Brat storyline.

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